2Sep

A research group at the Technical University ( TU) of Chemnitz and the Leibniz Institute for Research on solid objects and materials ( IFW) Dresden develops ultra compact energy reservoir .

” If you cut a usual battery , one can see that it consists of layers wound ” , said Oliver G. Schmidt , Chair of material systems in Nanoelectronics at the TU Chemnitz: “So far the battery size could be reduced to a limited extent , because the winding layers only operates the macroscopic scale . His research group has developed a solution to bypass this limitation in miniaturization .

A layer system at high voltage is formed by coating thin layers of alternating metal and dielectric layer on a sub – forum . This tension can be released through the targeted separation of thin layers so that layers of wrap themselves in an ultra-compact energy reservoir . ” Thus the energy units are extremely compact made with an enormous storage capacity of energy per unit area on a chip , more than twice that of familiar technologies , “said Mr. Schmidt before completing ” Last but not least The manufacturing process is extremely easy and works almost by itself . “

” We use it for hybrid materials , ” says Dr. Carlos Cesar Bof Bufon , the research group of Chemnitz . Thus various materials can be used, metal or insulator , but also organic substances such as polymers or molecular ultrathin layers . Mr. Bad Bufon explains that “the performance is considerably improved. The energy reservoir can be used for applications requiring short- term high power, such as mini – motors . The mini – batteries can also be used for local energy supply of silicon chips or for the operation of autonomous systems , such as small robots.

The visionaries are even considering the integration of these mini – batteries in smart dust ( or smart dust) : This tiny sensor systems, for instance, used to measure the temperature in the cyclones . They could also monitor the migratory birds on their way south to monitor temperature changes during the trip . “When the sensor system is no bigger than a speck of dust, the energy supply can not therefore be high , “says Schmidt .

The research group works in Chemnitz local building start- ups on the campus of intelligent systems around the TU . ” We integrate very well in this environment on this campus because many companies are interested in nano technology , companies are addressing the issue of energy supply and are likely to implement our development, ” said Ms . Schmidt . According to expert estimates , there are approximately 5 years to maturity of applications. Ideas for further development abound: for example, a wire could be connected directly to the shell energy as a coil to create a miniaturized oscillating circuit .